The back to back death of the father and son duo under police custody in Thoothukudi district in the span of 24 hours had sparked massive outrage and protests in Tamil Nadu and the opposition parties have urged the government to initiate stern action against the responsible police officers as the incident has strongly been dubbed as police brutality.

According to the reports close to the developments, Jayarajan (58) and his son Bennix (31), a native of Sathankulam from Thoothukudi district have died one after the other mysteriously when they were lodged under the police custody in Kovilpatti sub-jail. The father and son duo operated a mobile shop in the area and on June 19, they were detained by the Sathankulam police department under the grounds of violating the lockdown timings. 

The police alleged that they kept their shop open beyond the prescribed timing of the lockdown and they were lodged in Kovilpatti sub-jail, which is about 100 kilometers away from their native place. The police cited that they had been lodged in Kovilpatti after the prison in their locality couldn't able to house more occupants.

During the police custody in Kovilpatti sub-jail, Bennix had developed chest pain on June 22 -Monday after which he was taken to the Kovilpatti government hospital. However, he was declared dead in the medical facility. Hours after his demise, his father Jayarajan was also taken to the hospital.

The reports say Jayarajan had also died in the wee hours of Tuesday - June 23 - about 4.30 am at Kovilpatti government hospital and the back to back deaths of father and son under police custody had triggered huge protests amid the Coronavirus outbreak. According to our sources, the locals say that the duo had died due to police brutality.

சாத்தான்குளத்தில் காவல்துறை அழைத்துச் சென்ற ஜெயராஜ் அவரது மகன் பென்னீக்ஸ் இருவருமே இறந்துவிட்டார்கள் என்பது அதிர்ச்சியளிக்கிறது.

நெருக்கடி காலத்தில் வாய்த்தகராறுக்கும் உயிர் பறிப்பா?

உள்துறையைக் கையில் வைத்திருக்கும் @CMOTamilNadu பதிலளிக்க வேண்டும்; உரிய நீதியும் வேண்டும்! pic.twitter.com/LF1Q9Raudh

— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) June 23, 2020

The traders union in Thoothukudi district had strongly condemned the police department and they closed the shops in Sathankulam and Peikulam areas and demanded the government to take stern action against the police officers. The opposition parties have also joined the protests and urged the government to deliver justice. 

In his statement, DMK President Stalin asked the government whether the police is ruling the government behind the screen. He has demanded the Chief Minister, who is also in charge of the home department, to give an appropriate answer to the incident and the DMK leader further urged the Chief Minister to take intense action against the responsible police officers. 

The members of the Marxist Communist Party had gathered before the hospital on Tuesday and protested against the police on the death of father and duo while they were under police custody. According to the latest reports, two police officers connected to the incident have been transferred. While speaking to the reporters, Thoothukudi Superintendent of Police claimed that the father and son had died due to health issues.